What Did Sanjay Raut Say About Jaichands and BJP's Victory?
Synopsis
Key Takeaways
- Sanjay Raut criticizes internal betrayal within Shiv Sena.
- The BJP led the BMC elections, ending the Thackeray family's 25-year reign.
- Raut emphasizes the need for party unity to combat electoral challenges.
- The BJP secured victories in 118 wards of the BMC.
- Shiv Sena maintains a strong presence in the Maharashtra assembly.
Mumbai, Jan 17 (NationPress) Shiv Sena (UBT) MP Sanjay Raut made a pointed statement against the BJP, accusing them of betrayal from within his party during the municipal elections.
Raut remarked, “Had there been no Jaichands, even a hundred generations of the BJP would have struggled to clinch victory for the mayoral position in Mumbai,” indicating the presence of internal enemies who, according to him, facilitated the BJP's success.
In an interview with IANS about the election outcomes, Raut noted that while results were announced throughout Maharashtra, the focus remained mainly on Mumbai, the state’s capital.
“The BJP has outperformed us in securing seats, hence their candidate will naturally assume the mayoral role. However, certain individuals within our party behaved like Jaichand, ultimately aiding the BJP,” he asserted.
Despite the setback, Raut emphasized that Shiv Sena (UBT) retains a robust presence in the state assembly. “Our strength in the Assembly is still significant,” he mentioned to IANS.
Meanwhile, the BJP-led coalition has dominated the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) elections, marking a loss for the Thackerays after 25 years of control over Mumbai’s civic administration. The Mahayuti coalition has gained power in 25 out of 29 civic bodies across Maharashtra.
The BJP-Shiv Sena coalition has successfully won in 118 wards of the BMC, with the BJP claiming victory in 89 wards, while Eknath Shinde’s Shiv Sena secured 29. The majority threshold stands at 114.
In contrast, the Thackeray cousins could not maintain control over the nation’s wealthiest civic body, winning only in 71 wards. Uddhav Thackeray's Shiv Sena captured 65 wards, while Raj Thackeray's Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) managed 6.
The BMC, with an annual budget exceeding Rs 74,400 crore, had 1,700 candidates vying for 227 seats in elections that occurred after significant delays.
Across the 29 municipal corporations in Maharashtra, the overall results also favor the BJP. A statewide tally reveals that the BJP has won 1,425 out of 2,869 wards, while its ally Shiv Sena, under Shinde’s leadership, achieved victories in 399.